June 18, 2010

Faces in Places

A spotlight on the local and regional bar and restaurant scene ...READ MORE

Elected Officials' Health Benefit Perks Questioned

OCEAN CITY •€' As health care costs rise and debates over employee compensation packages continue, it seems like it will only be a matter of time before someone questions the benefits and salaries given to the Mayor and City Council of Ocean City. Councilman Joe Hall and Jim Hall have been vehemently outspoken in their quest to cut starting salaries and benefits for new hires in the town of Ocean City, though they are two of the biggest benefactors of the City Council's health insurance...READ MORE

Thoughts From the Publisher's Desk

In response to last week's editorial, questioning whether the Ocean City Air Show will ever be an event that actually puts 'heads in beds,' Ocean City Councilman Joe Hall called to remind me the town contributes thousands of other dollars besides the $50,000 in seed money to the Ocean City Air Show. While a supporter of the event as a 'value-added' activity in Ocean City, Hall said the expense to the town goes far beyond that $50,000. Acknowledging he's not a numbers guy, he said call City Hall...READ MORE

Voices From the Readers

Let's Stress What's Allowed Editor: With the ever growing list of "can't do's" for our Ocean City beaches and Boardwalk, now might be a good time to re-do the signs listing what you "can do" on our beaches and Boardwalk. To list the "do's" would be substantially shorter a list and less negative than the "don'ts". Think about it. Robin Yates Carter Howell Ocean City Elderly Term Offends Editor: The headline on page 11A of the June 11, edition of The...READ MORE

Health Insurance For Elected Folks Needs A Review

 Being an elected official is a thankless job, but rest assured there are plenty of perks to go along with it. In Ocean City, along with respectable and understandable salaries, these officials also receive wonderful health insurance coverage, and they only pay 10 percent of the cost. What's galling is historically nearly every elected official, and oftentimes his or her family, takes public health insurance and does so without any sort of moral dilemma. It's been this way forever, as far...READ MORE

Friday, June 18--Art's Alive Festival To Celebrate 10th Anniversary

OCEAN CITY -- Art's Alive celebrates its 10th year of offering fabulous fine arts in the beautiful setting of Ocean City's Northside Park on Saturday and Sunday, June 19-20. Admission is free. From the moment you arrive, you will discover the perfect setting for an art show - winding paths around a beautiful lagoon with a decorative bridge. Stroll along the path to see beautiful works in the artist tents. Browse through 100 artist tents, listen to the sounds of live entertainment and enjoy...READ MORE

Friday, June 18--Berlin Council Rejects Revolving Business Loans

BERLIN - Businesses in Berlin will have to carry on without town government business improvement loans after three of five council members rejected the proposal. Economic Development Director Michael Day proposed the revolving loan fund to the town council recently as a means of supporting existing businesses with operational costs, such as new equipment or building improvements. 'I think it's something the town should have. A lot of towns have them,' said Day. Day said he realized during the...READ MORE

Friday, June 18--County Takes Over South Welcome Center

SNOW HILL - The Pocomoke Welcome Center at the Maryland-Virginia line will remain open under Worcester auspices, the County Commissioners officially decided this week. The commissioners voted 5-1, with Commissioner Judy Boggs dissenting and Commissioner Bobby Cowger absent, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) governing the county takeover of the state of Maryland Pocomoke Welcome Center on Route 13. The county's tourism department, starting July 1, will manage the welcome center. The...READ MORE

Friday, June 18--Disney, OC Announce Shows

OCEAN CITY •€' Ocean City has spent millions marketing itself as a go-to family destination for years, and this week, it announced a new partnership with the biggest name in family related destinations and products: Disney. Tourism Director Debbie Turk told the Mayor and Council this week that she had pursued a partnership deal with Radio Disney that will bring a seven-date free concert tour entitled the 'Sizzlin Summer of Stars' on the beach near North Division Street this summer. 'Disney...READ MORE

City Police Record 112 Drug Arrests In A Week

OCEAN CITY - Ocean City police had a busy week with illegal narcotics investigations, recording well over 100 drug arrests, ranging from simple possession to larger scale distribution, marking a sign of the season in the summer resort. With thousands of recent graduates in the resort, along with countless other visitors, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) in the last week or so have stepped up their aggressive campaign to stop illegal drug sales and use with usual results. During the one-week...READ MORE

Downs To Host Limited Racing Meet In August

BERLIN - There will be action at Ocean Downs this summer after all after track officials have come up with a plan to provide the state's harness racing industry with an outlet for its summer season while meeting its live-racing obligation for the zoning of the property. Ocean Downs officials this week announced there would be live racing on Saturday afternoons in August at the historic track near Berlin, albeit not necessarily in a form enthusiasts have grown accustomed to in the last 60 years...READ MORE

Michael Vick Details Fall From Top To Area Students

SNOW HILL - Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick made a pre-season stop in Snow Hill this week, extolling to high school students the importance of making good decisions and doing the right thing in a well-received presentation on Monday. The Snow Hill auditorium was abuzz in the moments preceding Vick's introduction by Principal Tom Davis and the room exploded in a cacophony of cheers, hoots and hollers when the once-fallen NFL star appeared from behind the curtain, proving, at least...READ MORE

North OC Street Changes Irk Residents

OCEAN CITY •€' Ron Deacon says the property owners on his street never asked to be part of a trial program that would install parking meters on 146th Street. He also says that the city never told them either. A budget time decision by the Mayor and Council that would potentially increase revenues by an estimated $30,000 annually by installing cale pay machines on 146th Street has enraged some local residents and property owners to the point they are allegedly attempting to take legal action...READ MORE

Ocean City Impact Fees Reduced

OCEAN CITY •€' When it came to impact fees, the Ocean City Council passed on an opportunity to cut them entirely, but chose to chop them in half for the foreseeable future. City Engineer Terry McGean was tasked to come before the Mayor and City Council on Tuesday at City Hall to explain what some officials thought was a complicated multiplier formula for the installation of new plumbing fixtures in Ocean City. In the end, the council opted to cut in half the current multipliers associated...READ MORE

50 Years For Warren's Station

T.K. Dickerson Staff Writer FENWICK ISLAND - Inside Warren's Station, pictures and documents of the little beach town dating back to the 19th century decorate the walls. In addition, the family restaurant has recorded a history of its own, comprised of employee pictures dating back to the 1980s. One of the owners, Scott Mumford, points himself out in one of the photos as a teenager. He notes that the restaurant, now celebrating its 50-year anniversary, often sees generations of employees. Kids...READ MORE

Burglary Spree Suspects Convicted

SNOW HILL - Three suspects arrested in January after Ocean City police detectives were able to connect them to an extensive narcotics distribution ring and a burglary spree involving nearly 30 residences in Ocean City, West Ocean City and Berlin appeared in Circuit Court last week and were each convicted on various serious charges resulting in jail time and extensive restitution to the victims. Shawn Barry White, 22, of Berlin, appeared in Circuit Court to face 108 total burglary, theft...READ MORE

Couple Tries To Deceive Cops After Domestic Dispute

OCEAN CITY - A Frederick, Md. man was arrested on first-degree assault and other serious charges last week after first dragging his girlfriend with his car with her hand locked in the door and later lying to police about his identity when he attempted to pick her up from the hospital. Shortly after 7 p.m. last Friday, the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) responded to an area near the Islander Motel on Philadelphia Ave. to assist with a reported EMS call. Once on the scene, the officers...READ MORE

High Court To Rule On School Board's $1M Lawsuit

BERLIN - The ongoing legal battle between the Worcester County Board of Education and a private contractor hired to complete certain elements of the long-since completed Ocean City Elementary School (OCES) appears to be heading toward end-game as the state's highest court last week agreed to hear the case. The Maryland Court of Appeals last week agreed to review the ongoing civil suit between the county's school board and Beka Industries, a private contractor hired to complete certain elements...READ MORE

Ocean City News In Brief

OCEAN CITY •€' In the brief this week, the Economic Development Committee (EDC) got a visit from former Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich, concerns were raised over the potential closing of a postal processing plant in Easton, the town's 'Rodney Saves' online campaign has reported huge increases in traffic and the Mayor and City Council decided on its wish list of issues they'd like to see discussed in Annapolis by the Maryland Municipal League. Ehrlich Polishes Talking Points To EDC...READ MORE

Phone Changes To Save County $16K

SNOW HILL - Renegotiation of its cell phone plan will save Worcester County thousands every year, staff reported this week. Savings should add up to more than $16,000 a year. The idea was originally proposed by Budget Officer Kathy Whited in an employee contest to suggest ways to make the county more efficient. Whited's idea was judged the best of the 167 submitted. Barbara Hitch and Dave Fitzgerald of the Worcester County Government Efficiency Committee spearheaded the cell phone savings...READ MORE

Relay Remembers Long-Time Beach Patrol Captain

Kylie Joson Staff Writer OCEAN CITY - Many would cringe at the phrase, '21-mile swim-run relay', but that is just the way the Ocean City Beach Patrol celebrates the contributions of former Beach Patrol Captain George Schoepf. Last Sunday, June 13 the OCBP hosted the Annual Captain Schoepf Relay at 10 a.m. The vintage steel buoy took 5 hours, 58 minutes and 14 seconds to be relayed the full circle of Ocean City. This memorial relay is held every year on the Sunday closest to June 11, to honor...READ MORE

Salary Study Finds Resort Pay Comparable To Others

OCEAN CITY •€' Councilman Jim Hall doesn't want to know what town employees get paid. He says he wants to know what they cost. The long-awaited city employee compensation study that Hall had been demanding for several months was presented on Tuesday afternoon at City Hall and left both he and Councilman Joe Hall rather unsatisfied. 'There wasn't much in it if you ask me,' said Hall. 'If you are going to make a presentation to the council, at least put everything in there. You can't just put...READ MORE

Stolen Handgun Recovered

OCEAN CITY - A Columbia man was arrested on weapons and theft charges this week after attempting to ditch a stolen handgun when questioned by police. Around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, three Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers were on bike patrol on the Boardwalk around 14th Street when they observed a female individual who met the description of a suspect being sought for an earlier theft scheme. The female suspect was accompanied by a group of individuals, two of whom veered off the...READ MORE

Fatherhood Adventures

There's one room in my house that's my favorite among all others. I call it the 'red room' because the walls are painted a shade of red and it's home to four of the biggest, most comfortable chairs, of the same color, I have ever owned. There was a rare moment a week or so ago when I walked into the room to read some of the morning paper (it was 7 at night). All was fairly peaceful in the house. Both kids had been fed. Both had their baths, and bedtime was approaching soon enough. Carson, the...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

Evelyn Armstrong Elliott OCEAN CITY - Evelyn Armstrong Elliott, age 89, died Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin. Born in New York, she was the daughter of the late John Armstrong and Isabella Steel Armstrong. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Sire Elliott, in 1993. Elliott was a homemaker. She was a United States Navy veteran. She was a member of St. Paul's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Ocean City. She is survived by her children, Lorette Rash and her...READ MORE

Who's Playing Where and When Musically Speaking

Sports Bar & Grille Old Bridge Road, West OC June 18: Overtime Saturday: Karaoke With Hey Mick June 24: TBA, 6-10 p.m. The , Talbot St. On the bay June 18: Time Police, 9 p.m. June 19 & Sunday, June 20: Clendenen Sunday: Local's Social With DJ Rusty Griswald Salty Dog , 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. June 18: Aaron Howell Band June 19: Coastal Vibrations Sunday: Local's Party with DJ BK Wednesday: DJ JJ June 24: Electric Company bar & Grill off the boards on 2nd St. June 18: Dave...READ MORE

30th Ocean City Shark Tourney Underway

OCEAN CITY- With sharks of all shapes and sizes suddenly in abundance off the coast of the resort, the 30th Annual Ocean City Shark Tournament got underway in earnest yesterday morning with the first of three official fishing days. The tournament officially opened with a captain's meeting on Wednesday, but the real action started yesterday morning as scores of boats and hundreds of anglers chugged offshore in search of a potential winner in one of many categories. The Ocean City Fishing Center...READ MORE

Beach Lax Splash Events a Big Hit

Beach Lax Splash Events a Big Hit OCEAN CITY- The resort area was ground zero for youth lacrosse last weekend with over 200 of the top boys' and girls' programs from all over the country descending on Ocean City and northern Worcester County for the annual Beach Lax Splash tournaments. Hosted by the local Beach Lacrosse program in conjunction with the Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department, the tournaments held each June have grown to well over 200 years since the inception of the event....READ MORE

Decatur's Bennett Shines at Camden Yards

Decatur's Bennett Shines at Camden Yards BERLIN- The accolades kept raining down on Stephen Decatur pitching standout Troy Bennett, who last weekend competed in the Brooks Robinson All-Star Classic at Camden Yards in Baltimore and was named Outstanding Pitcher for the South team in the annual contest. Bennett, who was named Bayside South Conference Player of the Year after an outstanding senior season at Decatur, was the starting pitcher for the South team in the Brooks Robinson All-Star Classic...READ MORE

Local 2nd Grader Wins Berlin Little League Home Run Derby

Second-grader Hunter Selzer last Saturday won the 2010 Berlin Little League Home Run Derby Championship, beating out 65 other players in the competition. Pictured above his Hunter with his coaches Ray Thompson and Brian Selzer.  ...READ MORE

Worcester's Butler Named Kelly Award Finalist

BERLIN- Worcester Prep lacrosse standout Justin Butler, a 2010 graduate, was honored recently as a finalist for the Ensign C. Markland Kelly, Jr. Award for the best high school lacrosse player in the state, the top award handed out in tradition-rich Maryland. A four-year starter at Worcester Prep, Butler emerged as an offensive powerhouse as a freshman and was a catalyst on several great teams for the Mallards in recent years. In his senior season in 2010, Butler scored 43 goals and dished out...READ MORE

A Week in Business

Quarterly Awards Presented BERLIN - The Farmers Bank of Willards recently presented first quarter awards. Carolina Foskey was named the Customer Service Award winner. She is an assistant head teller. The Employee Appreciation Award was presented to Jennifer LeCurts, who has been with the bank for eight years and works presented in the computer room department. Bank Announces Promotion BERLIN - Raymond M. Thompson, CEO/President of Calvin B. Taylor Banking Company, announced David Kenneth...READ MORE

AGH Junior Auxiliary Group Preparing 2nd Annual Fashion Show

The Atlantic General Hospital Junior Auxiliary Group (JAG), is preparing for the 2nd Annual Summer Solstice Fashion Show scheduled for June 28, benefiting the James G. and Nancy W. Barrett Nursing Scholarship Program. The event will be held again this year at the Brandywine Assisted Living in Selbyville, Del., featuring fashions from CraZy LadyZ.  Ticket price is $40 and includes appetizers, dinner, wine and beer, fashion show and door prizes. Tickets are available to purchase online at...READ MORE

PRMC Holds Annual Heritage Society Reception

The Peninsula Regional Medical Center Foundation held its annual Heritage Society Reception at the home of Palmer Gillis in Ocean City, honoring donors for the past year. Among those in attendance were, above from left, Shirley Sultani, Kari Berger, Dr. Leonard Berger, Denise Billing, Sandy James and Palmer Gillis.  ...READ MORE

Delmarva Irish Club Awards $10K to Graduating Seniors

The Delmarva Irish American Club (DIAC) recently awarded $10,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors at Stephen Decatur High School. Pictured, from left, are Bill Ferguson and Joan Saur of the DIAC scholarship committee, students Nicole Johnson, Megan O'Donnell, Bonnie Eisenman, Kathryn Hillyer, Kelly Mulholland, Devon Harman, Lindsey Bankert and Nicholas Ridgeway and Nancy Howard, DIAC committee.  ...READ MORE

Worcester County Dept. of Social Services Honors Foster Families

The Worcester County Department of Social Services recently honored area foster parents at the Dunes Manor Hotel in Ocean City for Foster Parent Appreciation Month. From top left, clockwise, are foster parents Brenda Kelly, Robin Cook, Seth Cook, Grace Brittingham, Theresa Collins, Alison Tinker, Jaime Kimble, Billy Kimble, Keith Hitchens, Tina Hitchens, Barbara Finn, John Clauss, Bonnie Clauss, and Tracy Kronewitter. In the middle from top are Judy Tremellen, Eva Winther and Kenny...READ MORE

SDHS Moonlit Mirage Prom Held

Stephen Decatur High School hosted the 2010 Moonlit Mirage Prom last month at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center. Seniors Joey Lertora and Taylor Blazer were crowned prom king and queen. They are pictured above with Principal Lou Taylor.   ...READ MORE

Coastal Lax Club Donates Money to BIS Physical Education

Players from Coastal Lacrosse Club recently presented Susan Johnson and the Berlin Intermediate School Physical Education Department with a $200 donation. The money will be used to purchase new equipment to be used for the upcoming school year. The club's primary practice fields are at Berlin Intermediate School. Pictured with Johnson are Dominic Klebe, Claire Billings, Rachel Florek, Frankie Giampi, Victoria Kerkovich, Brennan Holloway, Olivia Bescak, Chris Leitgeb, Lexie VanKirk and Mason...READ MORE

Scenes From OC Elementary Graduation

Students in Faith Murray's fourth grade class celebrated their graduation from Ocean City Elementary School on June 8. Pictured in front are Austyn Young, Cedric Pabich, John Ford, Hannah Stolba, Kayla Higgins and Candace Allen. In the back are Daniel Stepcic, Matthew Lodanski, Buddy Martin, Amaya Seltzer, Dzyhire Brown and Hayden Zaiser.  ...READ MORE

SDHS Academic Team Advances to Final 16 in New Orleans

The Stephen Decatur High School Academic Team recently participated in the National Academic Tournament in New Orleans and advanced to the final 16. Back are senior Brett Oliver, freshman Joe Iacona, seniors Zack Knopp, Kelly Mulholland, Austin Baker and Brandon Maddy; front, seniors Marcie Wiggins, Leslie Hurley and Bonnie Eisenman and junior Arianna Riccio.  ...READ MORE

Showell Second Graders Study Hawaiian Culture

Ashley Fardone's second grade class at Showell Elementary completed a study of Hawaii by wearing traditional Hawaii garb and celebrating with a class luau. Back row, from left, are William Edmunds, Devon Ross, Nate Custer, Linda Kerton, Hannah Wilson, Damiana Colley, Tony Scafone and Morgan Franklin; middle, Eric Gwin, Ellie Dutton, Patra Turner and Fardone; and, front, Matthew Brown, Kayla Short, Alyssa Romano and Madison Birckett.  ...READ MORE

Raven's Roost Awards $10,000 to Local Graduates

At its June business meeting, Ravens Roost #44 awarded $10,000 in scholarships to local graduates. Pictured, from left, are Lauren Cosgriff, Stephen Decatur; Jacob Buchler, Indian River; Taylor Howard, Indian River; Marisa Grimes, Worcester Prep; and Sarah Noyes, Worcester Prep.  Scholarship winners not pictured were Lindsay Miller and Bradley Janson, both of Stephen Decatur.   ...READ MORE

Daughters of the American Revolution Award ROTC Medals to Local Students

The General Levin Winder Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution recently awarded ROTC bronze medals to students in Junior ROTC programs at Worcester County high schools. Local recipients were Jaclyn Twigg, Pocomoke High School; Christopher Parr, Snow Hill High School; and Sinead O•€˜Brien, Stephen Decatur High School. The General Levin Winder Chapter also presented each recipient with a $50 United States Savings Bond. Above, O'Brian is pictured with Pat...READ MORE

Fish 'N OC

If you are a person who loves fishing like I do, then you know how hard it can be to stop fishing when the fish are really bighting. This past week, there were times on my boat, when it was really tough to stop fishing. I've been a captain for a long time, and I have seen a lot of seasons come and go. As most of you know, the majority of the fish we target here are migratory, and that means that sometimes the fish are here and other times they are not. Some years are better than others. All...READ MORE

Things I Like

Watermelon after the beach Smell of a flower shop My son's love of running on the beach Colors of a conch shell Going anywhere by boat Early Rolling Stones albums Cheese and crackers and wine When the baby birds have moved on Quiet, uneventful Mondays Sunny dispositions Hannah Davis' singing voice  ...READ MORE

It's A Wise Time To Start Company Retirement Plan

OCEAN CITY - While some larger companies are suspending their matching contributions to meet expenses, many small to midsize businesses are introducing 401(k) retirement plans for their employees •€' even during this sluggish economy. In fact, initiating a plan now is a sound business idea. "I've seen strong interest among smaller employers in offering 401(k)s, especially when they realize their part in helping people save money and achieve retirement success," says...READ MORE

What's Your Sign

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): A plan you've kept on hold for a long time finally could be greenlighted. But in typical Aries form, you'll need to be sure that everything is in place before you hit the "start" button. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): Others might urge you to act more quickly on your ideas. But you'd be wise to follow your Bovine instincts and get more facts to bolster your position when you finally present it. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): You might be tempted to accept the...READ MORE

People in Society

Snapshots of those lending a helping hand throughout the community ...READ MORE

Arts in the Area

A spotlight on the local art scene ...READ MORE